the broadband availability and adoption strategic plan

Transcription

THE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION
STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGION
Developed by
The Southwest Missouri Regional Technology Planning Team
May 2012
Final Broadband Strategic Plan
Southwest Missouri Region
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY
PLANNING TEAM
Southwest Missouri RTPT Members
Sector
Name
Title
Organization
Agriculture
Wesley Tucker
Agriculture Business
Specialist
Polk County Extension Center
Workforce
Development
Bill Dowling
Director
Missouri Career Center
Workforce
Development
Sherry Coker
Workforce Development
Business Manager
Ozarks Technical Community College
Energy
Todd Murren
Director
SpringNet
K-12 Education
Dan Swadley
Teacher
Republic R-III Schools
Higher Education
Jeff Morrissey
Chief Information
Officer
Missouri State University
Higher Education
Mark Harsen
Networking Services
Missouri State University
Libraries
Regina Cooper
Executive Director
Springfield-Greene County Library
Libraries
Gay Wilson
Planning and
Development Librarian
Springfield-Greene County Library
Healthcare
Dan Brewer
Director of
Communications
CoxHealth Systems
Business and
Professional
Services
Lisa Bernet
Owner
Bernet Investments
Public Safety
Sean Barnwell
Sergeant
Branson Police
Local Government
Nancy Edson
City Administrator
City of Rogersville
Economic
Development
Cy Murray
Community
Development Manager
White River Electric
Tourism
Dave Edwards
Director-Safety, Security
Silver Dollar City
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Southwest Missouri RTPT Members
Sector
Name
Title
Organization
& Health Services
Industrial and
Manufacturing
Gena Ross
Asst. Executive Director
Missouri Association of Manufacturers
Citizen
Natasha Longpine
Service Provider
Bill Fallin
Vice President/General
Manager
CenturyLink
Service Provider
Mike Haynes
Regional Director
AT&T
Service Provider
Donald Lester
Owner
Lake View Broadband Wireless LLC
Service Provider
Cindy Evans
Show-Me Technologies
Service Provider
Tim Lewis
Show-Me Technologies
Service Provider
Dan Dunbar
Totalhighspeed
Service Provider
Bret Chrismer
Suddenlink
This Strategic Plan and the recommendations made herein were developed by the members of the
Southwest Missouri region RTPT for the benefit of the regional community. MoBroadbandNow
provided support for the development of the Strategic Plan, including data collection, analysis, mapping
and meeting facilitation, but is not the author of the Plan.
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Table of Contents
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY PLANNING TEAM
...................................................................................................................................................................... I
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 1
PURPOSE OF THE BROADBAND PLANNING EXERCISE .......................................................................................... 1
Statewide MoBroadbandNow Initiative ..................................................................................................... 1
RTPT Process Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 2
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL OVERVIEW .................................................................................................... 4
County Profiles ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
Maps of the Southwest Missouri Region ..................................................................................................... 8
Highlights of Broadband Activity within the Southwest Missouri Region ................................ 10
BTOP/RUS Awardees .......................................................................................................................... 10
KEY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS.............................................................................................. 12
KEY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS................................................................... 12
Broadband and Related Technology and Service Adoption ................................................. 12
Access to Computers ....................................................................................................................... 12
Access to the Internet ..................................................................................................................... 12
Type of Internet Service ................................................................................................................. 13
Broadband Access and Availability ................................................................................................ 13
Broadband Applications ..................................................................................................................... 19
BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS ................................................................................. 20
On-line Business Survey Results................................................................................................................... 20
Types of Businesses ......................................................................................................................... 20
Broadband Service and Technology Adoption .......................................................................... 21
Type of Business Internet Connection ..................................................................................... 22
Importance of Broadband among Businesses ....................................................................... 22
Business Broadband Access and Availability ............................................................................. 23
Broadband Providers in the Southwest Missouri Region ................................................. 23
Competitiveness of Commercial Broadband ......................................................................... 23
Broadband Service Ratings ........................................................................................................... 23
Applications for Business .............................................................................................................. 24
Additional Survey Comments ...................................................................................................... 24
Key Sector-based Needs Assessment Findings ....................................................................................... 24
Broadband Service Adoption ........................................................................................................... 24
Broadband Infrastructure and Service Availability ................................................................. 25
Key Sector Applications of Broadband ......................................................................................... 27
SWOC FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 29
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SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGION SWOC ANALYSIS OVERVIEW ..................................................................... 29
Top Five (5) Strengths of the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband Environment....... 29
Top Five (5) Weaknesses of the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband Environment .. 30
Top Five (5) Opportunities Concerning the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband
Environment ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
Top Five (5) Challenges in the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband Environment .... 31
THE RTPT FURTHER AMPLIFIED THAT A KEY COMPONENT OF MEETING THE ABOVE CHALLENGES WAS TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED BACKHAUL (MIDDLE-MILE) INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES, AS WELL
AS EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF CURRENT CELLULAR DATA SYSTEMS BY IMPLEMENTING 4G TECHNOLOGY
THROUGHOUT THE REGION. ................................................................................................................................ 32
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS ................................................................................................................... 33
SUMMARY OF CRITICAL FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 33
Adoption ................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Availability............................................................................................................................................................ 34
STRATEGIES TO INCREASE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION IN THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
REGION ................................................................................................................................................................. 36
Adoption ................................................................................................................................................................ 36
Availability............................................................................................................................................................ 36
Goal 1. Availability -- Expand Broadband Availability such that it Meets and Exceeds
the Governor’s Goal of 95% Availability for the Entire Southwest Missouri
Region ............................................................................................................................................... 37
Goal 2. Adoption -- Increase Broadband/Internet, Computer/Access Device
Ownership ....................................................................................................................................... 40
Goal 3. Availability -- Expand Broadband Capacity throughout the Southwest
Missouri Region............................................................................................................................. 46
Goal 4. Adoption -- Increase Access to Affordable Broadband/Internet......................... 50
Goal 5. Adoption -- Increase Computer/Technology/Internet Literacy.......................... 55
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Attachments
1 – Link to Online Broadband Planning Toolkit
2 – Southwest Missouri Region Planning Process Elements
3 – Southwest Missouri Region Residential Community Broadband Survey Results
4 – Southwest Missouri Region Business Broadband Survey Results
5 – Southwest Missouri Region Sector Groups Broadband Survey Results
6 – Southwest Missouri Region SWOC Analysis Summary
7 – Southwest Missouri Region Broadband Service Providers
8 – Additional Maps Profiling the Southwest Missouri Region
9 – Additional Maps Profiling Broadband Providers in the State of Missouri
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INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE OF THE BROADBAND PLANNING EXERCISE
The State of Missouri is in the midst of a transformative effort to expand the reach of affordable,
broadband (high-speed internet) access to at least 95% of Missourians by the end of 2014. This
effort involves working to enhance broadband access, create public computing centers, develop
sustainable broadband adoption efforts, document broadband availability through comprehensive
statewide mapping, and enhance Strategic Planning activities throughout the State, to ensure that
expanded broadband infrastructure and services will be available to meet the growing needs of
citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations, and public institutions.
A critical part of this comprehensive effort is local and regional broadband planning. In line with
this, the State has developed 19 regional technology-planning teams (RTPTs), one of which was
the Southwest Missouri RTPT. The Southwest Missouri RTPT and the other 18 RTPTs
throughout the state have the same overall mission: to advance broadband demand and adoption,
and broadband service and infrastructure availability, within their region.
The Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed in 2009 provided
funding for the development of broadband infrastructure as well as sustainable broadband
adoption efforts, statewide broadband mapping and development of the regional Strategic Plans.
Missouri competed aggressively and, as further described below, millions of dollars in stimulus
funds are now being used to help meet critical broadband availability and adoption goals. Some
of this funding was used to support the efforts of the RTPTs.
Statewide MoBroadbandNow Initiative
MoBroadbandNow was established by Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon in 2009 as a publicprivate initiative to expand and enhance broadband accessibility and adoption. The initiative’s
first effort was partnering with broadband providers to identify communities that were
underserved or unserved with high-speed Internet within the state. Through a competitive award
process, funding was secured to design and build new broadband infrastructure. Missouri
broadband providers were awarded $261 million for 19 projects. Including additional cash and
in-kind support, the total available is nearly $325 million.
1
MoBroadbandNow has seven core objectives including: collecting and verifying data and
information; preparing comprehensive state and regional broadband maps; establishing regional
technology planning teams; building new, and leveraging existing, relationships with broadband
stakeholders; providing technical assistance; tracking the progress of infrastructure projects; and
providing transparency and convening public forums and community outreach.
A series of state and regional maps have been produced identifying population density, the
number of broadband providers and service coverage, average download speed and geographic
topography. There are currently over 100 broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
participating in data submissions.
Missourians have already begun reaping the benefits of improved high-speed Internet. In May
2011, Ralls County Electric Cooperative was one of the first American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act awarded providers to substantially complete construction and provide service
to homes and businesses. Other MoBroadbandNow endorsed projects are underway and more
citizens will see faster, reliable connections in the future. Additional data, maps, and broadband
information can be found at www.mobroadbandnow.com.
RTPT Process Overview
Consistent with the objectives of MoBroadbandNow, and to ensure a collaborative approach that
would represent the diversity of the region, the membership of the RTPT was developed to
represent local stakeholders from a variety of different sectors. Within Southwest Missouri,
these sectors included Agriculture, Broadband and Internet Service Providers, Business and
Professional Services, Economic Development, Energy, Environment, Healthcare, Higher
Education, Industrial and Manufacturing, K-12 Education, Library, Local Government, Public
Safety, Tourism and Workforce Development.
The process was twofold, with the first half being devoted to the Needs Assessment. It was
designed to gather needs, interests, attitudes and opinions concerning broadband access,
availability and adoption from a variety of different communities of interest, including: the
residential community, the business community at large and the various sectors represented by
the RTPT members.
The second part of the process was development of this Strategic Plan (SP or Plan). The RTPT
analyzed the findings from the Needs Assessment, conducted a Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Challenges (SWOC) analysis concerning the findings and then developed this
Strategic Plan to enhance and expand broadband infrastructure and service availability and
broadband adoption among all the communities of interest within the region.
2
The RTPTs had many resources available to them to perform the Needs Assessment and prepare
the Strategic Plan. These are further detailed in Attachment 1, the Broadband Planning Toolkit.
RTPT members were also involved in two Statewide Broadband Summits that featured
nationally renowned speakers providing the latest information on trends in broadband service
provision, adoption and utilization. These Summits also enabled RTPT members from different
regions to share information and discuss strategies.
The culmination of the Strategic Planning effort has resulted in diverse community sectors, such
as education, business, healthcare, government and local broadband and internet service
providers, working together to craft and begin to implement the Strategic initiatives and
directions detailed in the Plan to advance the broadband climate in the Southwest Missouri
region. This plan includes measurable goals, objectives and benchmarks that will help keep this
effort on track in ensuing years. Moreover, the regional technology planning process is designed
to be enduring, such that the Needs Assessment can be updated over time and the Strategic Plan
can remain dynamic and be adjusted and updated based on changing circumstances,
technologies, and the results of the implementation efforts proposed herein.
3
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL OVERVIEW
The Southwest Missouri region is located in the southwest portion of the state of Missouri and is
comprised of the following counties: Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk,
Stone, Taney and Webster. Overall, the region can be best characterized by its topography,
population distribution, industries and socio-economic climate.
The region comprises 6,093 square miles, 8.7 percent of the total area for the State of Missouri,
with an additional 105 square miles consisting of water resources. The topography of the region
includes plateaus, rolling hills, forests, and valleys, with rivers, streams, and other bodies of
water. The Ozarks Plateau physiographic province is subdivided in two areas within the region.
Most of the northern and northwestern portions, including Lawrence County and segments of
Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Polk and Webster are located on the Springfield Plateau.
The Springfield Plateau is characterized by fairly level to moderate rolling plains, which means
topographical barriers are not a major issue. However, the terrain of the Salem Plateau may
cause more broadband access issues related to topography because of the rugged hills and deeply
entrenched stream valleys located in Taney, Stone, and portions of Barry and Christian counties.
The average population density for this region is 96.2 people per square mile according to the
Missouri Census Data Center in 2010, which is slightly above the state’s average at 87.1. Within
the region, Dade and Dallas have the lowest population densities at 16.1 and 31 respectively.
Greene County has the highest density at 407.5, while Christian County has the second highest at
137.6.
Many of the counties within this region contain relatively independent and specialized subeconomies which impact the broadband service needs and availability. Historically, farming has
been a significant factor in the economy of the 10-county region and continues today. For
example, Dade and Dallas Counties have the highest concentration of farming, demonstrating the
rural character of much of the region. Because of Branson, Taney County relies heavily on their
tourism industry, including food and accommodation services. Alternatively, the local economic
base for Barry County is focused on their manufacturing and industrial sectors.
The per capita income for this region is also significantly lower than the state’s average of
$23,920. The counties that lie closest to this average for the state are Christian and Greene. On
the other hand, the counties with the lowest per capita income are Dade at $16,638 and Polk at
$18,138. The rest of the region ranges from $18,500 – $22,000, all landing below the average for
the state.
4
County Profiles
Demographic and economic profiles of the counties in the Southwest Missouri region are shown
below in Table 1.
Table 1: Demographic and Economic Profile of Counties in the Southwest Missouri
Council of Governments (SMCOG) area (Please see next page for more information and counties)
Variables
County Characteristics
Metro or non-metro county
USDA County Typology:
Economic Dependence
BARRY
CHRISTIAN
DADE
DALLAS
GREENE
Non-metro
Metro
Non-metro
Metro
Metro
Manufacturing
Not
Specialized
Not
Specialized
Not
Specialized
Service
None
Retire
None
None
None
82
67
33
28
212
35597
(6%)
77422
(13%)
7883
(1%)
16777
(3%)
275174
(46%)
Population Density
(pop per sq. mile)
45.7
137.6
16.1
31
407.5
% rural Population
74.5
50.7
100
83.1
18.1
% of households with children
(age 18 and under)
27.7
36.2
24.8
27.5
25.3
% white/ Caucasian
92.1
95.7
96
96.5
91.2
Median Age
41.8
36.3
45.9
41.4
35.8
% over 65 years
17.6
12.2
20.5
17
14
Income, Education and employment Indicators
Median Household Income
34838
48041
33452
37589
38059
Percentage unemployed
8.7%
8.4%
8.9%
11.7%
8.4%
Population in poverty
Percentage of high school
graduates
Total Number of Businesses
(CBP, 2009)
18.9%
11.1%
21.7%
19.5%
19.1%
41%
34.1%
45.4%
41.5%
30.9%
751
1635
149
270
8081
441
1036
98
176
4020
USDA County typology:
Federal policy types*
Number of community anchors
Population Characteristics
Total population
(% of region’s population)
Total Small Businesses
5
Variables
Percentage of small businesses
(less than 5 employees)
Sector with most number of
employee
businesses
BARRY
CHRISTIAN
DADE
59%
63%
66%
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Retail Trade
Constructio
n
DALLAS
GREENE
Wholesale
Trade
65%
Healthcare
and social
services
50%
Healthcare and
social services
Retail Trade
Retail Trade
Retail Trade
*LEdu =Low education county, LEmp =Low employment county, PPov=Persistent poverty county and Ret= Retirement county
Table 1: Demographic and Economic Profile of Counties in the Southwest Missouri
Council of Governments (SMCOG) area (Please see next pages for more information)
Variables
LAWRENCE
POLK
STONE
TANEY
WEBSTER
County Characteristics
Metro or non-metro county
USDA County Typology:
Based on Economic Dependence
USDA County typology:
Federal policy types*
Number of community anchors
Population Characteristics
Total population
(% of region’s population)
Population Density
(pop per sq. mile)
% rural Population
% of households with children
(age 18 and under)
% white/ Caucasian
Median Age
% over 65 years
Non-metro
Metro
Non-metro
Non-metro
Metro
Not
Specialized
Service
Service
Service
Manufacturing
None
Retire
LEmp, Rec,
Retire
Rec, Retire
None
71
60
67
74
48
38634
(6%)
31137
(5%)
32202
(5%)
51675
(9%)
36202
(6%)
63.2
49
69.4
81.7
61.1
61.7%
68.8%
100%
49.7%
80.3%
30.2%
28.6%
20.9%
25.7%
33.8%
93.6%
96.2%
97.2%
93.6%
96.3%
39.1
37.8
49.9
40.7
37.5
16.4%
16.1%
24.5%
17.7%
13.2%
34837
9.9%
37788
12.4%
34281
12.6%
42966
10%
21
16.3
20
17.2
39.7%
38.8%
37.8%
39.8%
601
703
1827
668
Income, Education and employment Indicators
Median Household Income
38800
Percentage unemployed
8.4%
Population in poverty
16.7
Percentage of high school
graduates
41.5%
Total Number of Businesses
(CBP, 2009)
699
6
Variables
Total Small Businesses
Percentage of small businesses
(less than 5 employees)
LAWRENCE
STONE
TANEY
WEBSTER
393
346
481
963
415
56%
58%
53%
62%
Manufacturing
Healthcare
and social
services
68%
Arts,
Entertainment
and
Recreation
Healthcare
and social
services
Retail Trade
Other Services
Retail
Trade
Construction
Retail
Trade
Retail Trade
employee
businesses
POLK
*LEdu =Low education county, LEmp =Low employment county, PPov=Persistent poverty county and Ret= Retirement county
7
Maps of the Southwest Missouri Region
The following maps provide an overview and topography of the Southwest Missouri region.
8
9
Highlights of Broadband Activity within the Southwest Missouri Region
Although, as detailed herein, the Southwest Missouri region faces a number of challenges related
to broadband infrastructure and service availability and adoption, there is a significant amount of
current and projected activity related to broadband deployment in the region. For example,
SpringNet, as well as the two-grant award winners described below, have indicated to the RTPT
that they continue to enhance and expand their broadband services within the region. These and
other providers are participants in the broadband availability mapping exercise. The total
number of providers within the Southwest Missouri region that are represented on the current
state map (http://mobroadbandnow.com/) is currently 22. These are listed in Attachment 7.
General maps of broadband availability and service levels are included in the next section.
BTOP/RUS Awardees
In Missouri, there are a number of middle mile and last mile infrastructure grant award winners
through the NTIA’s BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program) and United States
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) RUS (Rural Utility Service) loan/grant process that
received funds and are currently in the process of building additional broadband infrastructure
within the region.
Within the Southwest Missouri region there are currently two awardees expanding their last mile
broadband infrastructure. Windstream Corporation is extending the reach of its last mile
broadband network in Barry, Lawrence and Polk counties, specifically in the communities of
Exeter, Freistatt, Hoberg, McDowell, McKinley, Miller, Pleasant Ridge, Pioneer, Wheaton and
Wishart. Windstream is deploying industry standard DSLAMs (Digital Subscriber Line Access
multiplexers) using ADSL2Plus (asynchronous digital subscriber line 2 plus) protocols, which
will enable a maximum of 12 Mbps downstream/768 Kbps upstream for the provision of internet
access and other data communication services. This service can also be provisioned at 3 Mbps
and 6 Mbps download as well as a pairing of 1.5 Mbps download/384 Kbps upload speeds.
Windstream indicates that it is using the same pricing model as it does for services throughout its
existing service area, meaning that the rural residents in these currently unserved areas will see
the benefit of prices for broadband that customers in urban and more competitive markets pay.
Additionally, Sho-Me Technologies is building a high capacity fiber optic middle mile
broadband network in central, southern and southwest Missouri that will ultimately provide
1,380 miles of middle mile infrastructure throughout 30 counties and provide 89 points of
presence for last mile broadband providers to connect into the network. In southwest Missouri,
Sho-Me covers Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster Counties.
10
Throughout the 30 county area, it will also connect up 100 community anchor institutions.
Attachment 9 provides high-level mapping information concerning the above projects.
Besides this, other broadband providers are actively engaged in broadband projects within the
region to expand and enhance broadband infrastructure and service availability and adoption,
including:

SpringNet’s broadband internet access has consistently grown since 1997. Today,
collectively, inbound traffic peaks at 1.3 Gbps and outbound traffic peaks at 700 Mbps.
Aggregating demand has assisted the Springfield community solve performance
challenges commonly experienced in other cities. Three physically diverse multi-homed
links collectively address SpringNet’s aggregated demand and produces a unique added
reliability from any single carrier. As a practical matter SpringNet does not impose
bandwidth limitations on customers. Bandwidth capability is decoupled from the
bandwidth needs of the customer. Without bandwidth restrictions customer applications
have the ability to “burst” to meet those instantaneous demands without the burden of
paying for it all the time. SpringNet believes this is “business class” performance. In the
fall of 2011 the local network was upgraded to a 10 Gbps platform offering 1 Gbps
customer connections ahead of Google Fiber in Kansas City.
SpringNet Underground is a secure data collocation site housed in a unique environment
that appeals to the business, government, educational and medical sectors stimulating the
development of public and private cloud computing, third party hosted applications,
disaster recovery solutions and business continuation capabilities. This underground
facility currently consists of 3 buildings. These 3 buildings offer 12,000 square feet of
raised floor space. The area currently occupied will accommodate one additional data
collocation building that would provide an additional 9,300 square feet of space, however
this would double the current electrical and cooling infrastructure. The estimate for
expansion is $15.5 - $16 million. It is anticipated, based on inquiries that the new space
could be 100% occupied within 3 years.
11
KEY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
The Needs Assessment performed by the Southwest Missouri RTPT focused on three major
communities of interest as they relate to broadband access, availability and adoption. This
included the Residential Community, the Business Community at large, and a wide variety of
Institutional, Organizational and Business Sectors evident throughout the region.
Key broadband-related findings from the Needs Assessment are profiled below.
KEY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
The residential Needs Assessment was conducted largely through a written survey (more detail is
provided in the Attachments). The results of the residential survey are categorized into two large
areas, consistent with the goals of the planning exercise: broadband and related technology and
service adoption; and broadband access and availability. Findings within these two categories
are found below.
Broadband and Related Technology and Service Adoption
Respondents were asked a number of questions related to broadband adoption.
Access to Computers
Regarding access to computers, 93% of respondents indicated that they owned a
computer. This computer ownership is higher in the Southwest Missouri region than
nationally. Additionally, over eight in ten of these respondents have owned a computer
for eight or more years, showing long-term adoption.
For the 7% of respondents who do not own a computer, the main reasons, and thus
challenges to computer technology adoption are: they can’t afford a computer; they don’t
know how to use a computer, or; they don’t want or need a computer.
Access to the Internet
Ninety-three percent (93%) of those with computers indicated having internet access at
home. The largest percentage of those with internet access has broadband service (types
of services are shown below, with additional information in the Attachments) with 36%
having broadband for 8 or more years, 32% adopting high-speed internet four to seven
12
years ago, 22% in the last one to three years and 4% in the last year. This means more
than two-thirds of all respondents with internet access are relatively long-time broadband
adopters.
For approximately 14% of households that do not have internet access, the three main
reasons are: cost; they don’t own a computer; or privacy/security concerns.
Type of Internet Service
Those residents that had internet access indicated a variety of different types of internet
service with many of them indicating some type of broadband service as shown below.
Table 6: Types of Internet Services used by households in SMCOG (93% of the
households with computers reported having internet)
Type of Service
Dial-up
Satellite Internet service
Cable modem
Cellular Broadband (air card)
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Other / Don’t Know
Percentage of HHs with internet
SMCOG Survey
Response
6%
4%
26%
6%
38%
6%
7%
93%
Survey response
for the State
9%
6%
20%
4%
37%
7%
5%
88%
(Data source: MoBroadbandNow – Residential Survey, 2011)
Broadband Access and Availability
Review of the residential needs assessment indicates that while most Southwest Missouri
residents access the internet utilizing broadband, this leaves approximately 2 out of 10 without
access to broadband service. Residential survey respondents noted several reasons for this. The
largest of these was cost. Specifically, 32% indicated that they chose their connection type and
service provider based on cost. Additionally, in open coded comments, 15% said they needed
lower cost service and an additional 17% of those that provided final comments indicated that
their primary need was lower cost.
The second reason for lack of broadband is related to a lack of ownership of computers or access
to the internet and whether the respondent values either or both of those items. As profiled
above, there are a number of residents that don’t want or need a computer and then don’t access
the internet because of the lack of an access device. Additionally, in the Southwest Missouri
region, 23% of residents indicated that access to computers and the internet was either somewhat
or not at all important.
13
The third most common reason for choosing a type of internet service was availability.
Specifically, 24% of survey respondents indicated that the reason that they chose a certain
connection type and service provider was because it was the only available service. This was
echoed in open coded concerns expressed by survey respondents, where 12% indicated that
broadband is needed in more rural areas.
Broadband Availability-Related Maps
The following maps show housing unit density, broadband service availability and broadband
service level availability in the Southwest Missouri region.
14
15
16
17
High-Speed Broadband Access Using the Latest FCC Definition of Broadband
If the FCC’s latest definition of Broadband is utilized instead of the NTIA’s definition,
Broadband Access in the Southwest Missouri region appears as depicted in the map below.
18
Broadband Applications
Those that have access to the internet and broadband indicated a variety of applications and uses,
including: a high degree of use of the internet for personal communications, health and product
information, transactions, access to news, and social networking. These uses are compared with
state and national trends in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Internet Use for Various Activities in the Southwest Missouri Region as compared
to Missouri and U.S. Averages
Activities
SMCOG
Region
Rural
Missouri
Nonrural
Missouri
Missouri
Average
Keep in touch with family and
friends
91%
89%
88%
88%
Look for information about a
service/ product you are
thinking of buying
Look for health or medical
information
Buy something online
86%
86%
83%
84%
78%
65%
70%
68%
69%
83%
62%
66%
62%
64%
71%
Look online for news or
information about politics
Use an online social networking
site like Facebook or LinkedIn
Do any online banking
66%
66%
66%
66%
76%
65%
65%
64%
65%
65%
22%
63%
66%
64%
61%
Visit your state, region or local
government’s website
Watch television or other videos
Play online video games
Look online for information
about a job
Take a class or do homework
Work from home
(telecommuting)
Contribute
to a website, blog or
other online forum
Look for information about a
place to live
Share something online that you
created yourself
39%
46%
42%
44%
67%
45%
34%
33%
40%
34%
33%
49%
36%
30%
44%
35%
31%
71%
36%
56%
19%
16%
25%
24%
24%
21%
20%
26%
24%
22%
25%
22%
--32%
18%
20%
20%
20%
39%
21%
19%
19%
19%
30%
19
National
Average
(Pew
Center)
--
Activities
SMCOG
Region
Rural
Missouri
Nonrural
Missouri
Missouri
Average
Operate or support a homebased business
33%
17%
13%
15%
Sell something online
19%
17%
14%
15%
National
Average
(Pew
Center)
-15%
(Data source: MoBroadbandNow – Residential Survey, 2011)
RTPT review also indicated that better delivery of applications and services, such as utilities,
emergency services, healthcare and marketing may spur residents to upgrade their broadband
connections.
BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
To determine the broadband-related needs, interests, attitudes and opinions of the general
business community, two main methods were employed: a General Business Community
Survey, and individual Business Sector Surveys (economic development, tourism, industrial and
manufacturing, etc.)
On-line Business Survey Results
Types of Businesses
The response to the on-line business survey came from a variety of different types of
businesses according to their National Business Classification as shown below in Table 4.
The large majority were small businesses, consistent with the region’s economic profile.
More information is available in Attachment 4.
Table 4: Business Survey Responses by NAICs Sectors with Total Businesses by Sectors
NAICS
11
21
22
23
National Business Classification
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and
Hunting Quarrying, and Oil and Gas
Mining,
Extraction
Utilities
Construction
20
Percentage of the
Total Business
Survey Respondents
of the total in
SMCOG
(n=46)
10%
0%
8%
5%
Percentage of
Total Businesses
in the SMCOG
Region*
(N=15,384)
0.10%
0.19%
0.24%
10.58%
NAICS
31
42
44
48
51
52
53
54
55
56
61
62
71
72
Other
(81 & 99)
National Business Classification
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Information
Finance and Insurance
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Professional, Scientific and Technical
Services
Management
of companies and
enterprises
Administrative and Support Services
Educational Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Accommodation and Food Services
Other services and not classified
Percentage of the
Total Business
Survey Respondents
of the total in
SMCOG
(n=46)
0%
0%
5%
0%
10%
3%
5%
10%
0%
0%
10%
20%
8%
5%
Percentage of
Total Businesses
in the SMCOG
Region*
(N=15,384)
3%
12.41%
4.36%
4.81%
16.40%
3.29%
1.42%
6.98%
4.97%
8.32%
0.70%
5.00%
0.72%
8.70%
1.92%
8.89%
*County Business Pattern, 2009
Broadband Service and Technology Adoption
Ninety-five percent (95%) of the Southwest Missouri region business survey respondents
reported having internet access. For those that didn’t, high-speed internet service wasn’t
available to them, but they plan on establishing service when it is offered (they were told,
however, that it may be years before it is available). For those that did, the majority of
businesses have some type of broadband connection (3% of business respondents are on dial-up
connections and 11% have satellite broadband, which may or may not be a broadband [as
defined by the NTIA] connection unless it is a business class link).
21
Type of Business Internet Connection
The specific types of internet connections are shown in Table 5 below.
Table 5: Types of Business Internet Services Used
Types of Internet connection
DSL
T-1
Cable Modem
Fiber to the Premises
Fixed Wireless
Satellite Broadband
Mobile Wireless
Dial-up Line - 56 Kbps or Less
Frame Relay/CIR
Response Percent
in SMCOG
(n=46)
22%
14%
17%
11%
14%
11%
14%
3%
3%
Response Percent
Missouri
(n=1182)
38%
11%
8%
8%
10%
8%
5%
8%
1%
National
Survey*
(n=1,329)
57%
34%
7%
8%
5%
23%
8%
-
(Data source: MoBroadbandNow – Business Survey, 2011)
(Due to the definition of the types of connections used in the national level survey by FCC, the percentages are
approximate comparison)
*Source: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1129/DA-10-2251A1.pdf
Importance of Broadband among Businesses
Every survey respondent indicated that a high-speed internet connection was very
important (89%) or important (11%) to the day-to-day operations of their business.
Additionally, 97% indicated that it would be beneficial to their business if broadband in
the region were enhanced. The majority of the reasons given for this high response were
related to the need for faster speeds to save time and grow their business; enhanced
broadband would increase productivity and the need for more reliable connections.
Regarding importance, a Wordle was developed that provided insight into the top words
and phrases described during open coded comments on why broadband was important to
the business respondents. As noted below, it is evident from the survey responses that
communication via the internet is critical to business.
22
Why is Broadband Important?
Business Broadband Access and Availability
Broadband Providers in the Southwest Missouri Region
A variety of providers in the Southwest Missouri region provide high-speed internet
service to businesses. The top ones listed by survey respondents included AT&T,
CenturyLink and Mediacom. Following these, Wildblue, Verizon, Suddenlink and ShoMe Technologies, were all tied at 6% of the business marketplace.
Competitiveness of Commercial Broadband
While a number of different providers serve the Southwest Missouri business broadband
marketplace, half of businesses noted in the survey that only one of them or none of them
is an option for their business. Specifically, 53% of respondents indicate that the
business broadband marketplace is not competitive at all (one-provider option), or that
there isn’t an option suitable for their business.
Broadband Service Ratings
Regarding service characteristics, the largest area of dissatisfaction, 45% of survey
respondents was cost of internet service. Not far behind at 42% dissatisfaction was speed
of the connections (echoed in the broadband enhancement response described above).
23
Reliability is also an issue, where dissatisfaction was expressed by 28% of respondents.
The survey results indicated that a majority of business broadband subscribers pay
between $50 and $100 per month for broadband internet service.
Applications for Business
Regarding broadband usage applications for business, email is the number one
application, followed by website applications and then banking, research, on-line
education and file sharing. See Attachment 4 for more detail.
Additional Survey Comments
Overall, businesses that have broadband service need more options including more
wireline broadband providers, more stable connections and faster speeds. Respondents
who don’t have broadband talked about the need to extend existing systems to provide
service to both their business and residents.
Key Sector-based Needs Assessment Findings
Institutional, organizational and business sector data concerning the sectors’ broadband-related
needs, interests, attitudes and opinions, was collected primarily through written and on-line
surveys.
Each sector is delineated in Attachment 2 with the methodologies used. The highlights for each
sector can be seen in the sector sheets attached as Attachment 5 to this document. Below, the
sectors are analyzed collectively and key findings from the sector-based results are arranged into
three (3) categories: Broadband Service Adoption, Broadband Infrastructure and Service
Availability and Key Applications of Broadband.
Broadband Service Adoption
The major broadband adoption issues for institutional, organizational and business sectors in the
Southwest Missouri region are:

Broadband has been adopted for critical operations by every sector profiled.

The vast majority of sector respondents see a variety of enhancements needed in the
future to increase the nature, amount and type of adoption. These include: increased
bandwidth, providing more access to citizens, especially in rural areas, better mobile
connections and more reliable connections.
24

The use of broadband can only fully facilitate service provision within any given sector
when it is present throughout the service provision chain (i.e., especially in the Southwest
Missouri for businesses to clients and other businesses, colleges and universities to
students, tourism-oriented businesses and libraries to patrons, etc.). For many of the
sectors profiled, there are existing problems in the region with the continuity of the
“broadband chain”. (Connectivity for some types of applications, though, is limited not
by the availability of broadband, but instead by business impracticability.)

Where broadband is available but has not been adopted for certain operations or at a
higher level, this is primarily due to: the less than optimum level of broadband being
available in some areas, the high cost of high levels of broadband in other areas, the lack
of broadband service in some parts of the region and the right hardware, software and
other tools not being in place.

Additional training, especially on technology and applications is needed for workers and
organizations to effectively use broadband technology
o In the Southwest Missouri region, this was especially seen for workforce
development, agricultural, local government, public safety and educational
organizations.

Bandwidth must not only be sufficient in speed, but have the proper latency, capacity and
symmetry characteristics such that it does not impact applications. An example of this is
when VoIP is routed over traditional T-1/T-3 broadband services. If these bandwidth
characteristics are insufficient, the application fails. Lack of reliability of services, based
on insufficient characteristics, could have a negative impact on adoption.
Broadband Infrastructure and Service Availability
Although all sectors noted that broadband was available to institutions, organizations and
businesses within their sectors, many noted availability problems. Key availability issues
include:

Lack of access in rural areas, including those just outside of population centers. Rural
areas north of Collins and in Nixa were specifically denoted by sector representatives.

Less than optimal access to the level of broadband needed.

Lack of broadband availability, cited as problematic by a number of sectors, including:
o Agriculture – Without broadband, agribusiness workers are not getting proper
training
25
o Economic Development – Sharing of project information is compromised by a
lack of uniform broadband
o Energy – Without broadband, consumers lack real-time pricing and use
information, which, if available, could heighten energy efficiency
o Healthcare – Without broadband availability, clinics cannot use the base and
advanced applications from the main hospital facility
o Higher Education – Where fast and stable broadband connections are not
available, it inhibits participation in on-line instruction, which is the only way for
educational institutions to continue to grow and reach and teach more students.
o Industrial and Manufacturing – Broadband availability is key to attracting up and
coming businesses and to enable existing businesses to grow
o K-12 Education - Lack of broadband availability creates unequal access to
educational resources for students, families and teachers
o Library – Rural patrons are at a significant disadvantage in receiving information
based on a lack of broadband availability
o Local Government – City facilities in outlying areas have limited access to
broadband, which compromises computer system access and disaster recovery
options. Also, it hampers communication with citizens in the event of an
emergency
o Public Safety – Broadband inaccessibility in the region is a problem for both
public safety professionals as well as the citizens they serve
o Tourism – Access to broadband is critical for tourism-oriented businesses because
they use the internet for almost every part of what they do (outreach, service to
clients, internal operations, etc.)
o Workforce Development – Residences and businesses in remote areas without
broadband are not able to access on-line training or job search sites

Many areas in the region are “just beyond” the reach of existing providers, but the
providers indicate it is too costly to expand their systems.
One response to the broadband infrastructure and service availability issues delineated above has
been developed by SpringNet.
26
In 2003 SpringNet® opened its 79,800 square foot underground collocation data center within a
limestone mine marketed under the name SpringNet Underground, see
www.springnetunderground.com. This computing environment is available to business,
government, medical, and educational entities as anchor institutions, to stimulate the
development of Internet-type cloud computing and third party hosted applications. Aside from
the physical assurances of all critical elements being located underground and the increased
confidence level with the synergies of municipal utility ownership, the site’s operating
efficiencies are attractive due to the absence of solar heating on the facility and the naturally cool
mine air that is utilized as “intake” for chiller operations.
Data Center
The facility primarily targets the small to medium sized business and community anchor
institutions by offering 1/3 of a cabinet, ½ of a cabinet, full cabinet, and custom space beginning
at 100 square feet.
Key Sector Applications of Broadband
All sectors report the use of the most common institutional, organizational, and business
applications such as a variety of web-site applications, e-mail, on-line research and other
common applications. A variety of other applications are profiled throughout this Plan. Specific
27
additional applications that are important to mention that provide critical information for
different sectors include:










Critical weather and storm information (Agriculture and Public Safety)
Training (multiple sectors)
Disaster recovery (Energy and Local Government)
Product and service provision (multiple sectors)
Marketing and business to business functions (Agriculture, Business and Professional
Services, Economic Development, Industry and Manufacturing and Tourism)
Education (Higher Education and K-12 Education)
Telemedicine (Healthcare)
Providing internet access to patrons/clients (Tourism and Libraries)
Client communications (multiple sectors)
VoIP Communications for residential phone service (Public Safety)
28
SWOC FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
A part of the RTPT’s mission in developing a Broadband Strategic Plan for the Southwest
Missouri region was to: leverage and build upon existing broadband-related strengths; overcome
current weaknesses; effectively address current and future challenges; and take full advantage of
current and future broadband opportunities. In order to do this, at its 2nd full in-person meeting,
the RTPT engaged in a review of the residential, business and institutional and organizational
sector needs assessment data and findings. Based on this, they then performed a strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and challenges (SWOC) analysis. This analysis, fully detailed in
Attachment 6, helped identify broadband availability and adoption issues that are considered
high priority and ultimately led to the development of the Strategic Directions, Goals, Objectives
and Initiatives profiled in the last section of this Plan.
Review and analysis of the feedback from the RTPT members, together with all of the preceding
information, resulted in the Southwest Missouri region SWOC analysis overview described
below, listing the top 5 in each of the SWOC categories.
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGION SWOC ANALYSIS OVERVIEW
The top five (5) strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges as they relate to both
broadband availability and adoption are listed below.
Top Five (5) Strengths of the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband
Environment
1. There is a substantial broadband user base in the Southwest Missouri region to
build upon, including residential, business, and organizational/institutional.
2. Three of the top four (4) vote-receiving sectors (Higher Education, Agriculture and
K-12 Education), exhibited significant strengths as both sectors and strong users of
broadband. Other Sectors were also strong Users and supporters of broadband
enhancements.
3. There are many broadband/internet related applications already being well utilized
in the Southwest Missouri region.
29
4. There are a variety of broadband providers in the Southwest Missouri region,
enabling a high level of availability in much of the region. This sector was also the
fifth-highest vote-receiving sector.
5. Broadband users rated a number of service and support-oriented aspects of their
current broadband providers and services highly.
Top Five (5) Weaknesses of the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband
Environment
As is seen in many SWOC analyses, some weaknesses run counter to the strengths, especially
where there is a large minority expressing problems, issues or concerns. After review of all of
the needs assessment data and the SWOC voting by RTPT members, the following are the top
five (5) weaknesses related to broadband in the Southwest Missouri region.
1. There is no or limited broadband connectivity to a number of rural areas within the
Southwest Missouri region.
2. Adoption is an issue in the broadband/internet/technology arena. Nearly 1 in 10
households do not have computers; another one in 10 does not have internet access,
and of those, approximately one in ten Southwest Missouri households do not have
broadband service.
3. Many businesses and institutions are highly dissatisfied with either connection
speed, connection performance or their ability to expand applications based on
current connection capacity.
4. Emergency management, a critical issue in the region, is not as effective as it could
be, based on a lack of uniform broadband.
5. Consistent with the above, some necessary applications cannot be effectively,
efficiently or uniformly implemented when there is a lack of sufficient broadband.
Sufficient broadband, in these cases, means having the necessary speed,
performance and availability. Lack of sufficient broadband, in turn, has a
cascading affect across sectors.
30
Top Five (5) Opportunities Concerning the Southwest Missouri Regional
Broadband Environment
As strengths are leveraged, and ways and means are devised to overcome the weaknesses, there
will be a number of opportunities to advance and enhance broadband availability and adoption
within the Southwest Missouri region. The top five (5) opportunities noted during the SWOC
analysis for the Southwest Missouri region include the following:
1. Sixty percent (60%) of residents without internet at home, including 73% of
households without computers, use the internet elsewhere. Focus on getting
broadband, and computers where needed, to these households.
2. Those that have broadband desire higher capacity connections, with access to
multiple system transport and end-user technologies.
3. Growth in certain sectors, such as Business, Agriculture, Education and Tourism
will have a positive cascading affect on Economic Development and other sectors.
4. The vast majority of residents, businesses and institutions place a high value on
internet access and broadband within the Southwest Missouri region.
5. More affordable, uniform, higher capacity broadband equals growth and
enhancement for all sectors.
Top Five (5) Challenges in the Southwest Missouri Regional Broadband
Environment
Similar to weaknesses running counter to strengths, there are multiple challenges to taking
advantage of the opportunities listed, as well as leveraging the strengths and overcoming the
weaknesses in the Southwest Missouri region. The top five (5) challenges are listed below.
1. Cost/affordability is a significant inhibitor across the board to expansion in
broadband availability and adoption.
2. Competition is highly desired by end users. Providers, though, indicate that the cost
of last mile infrastructure is a significant inhibitor to cost-effective service
development.
3. Continued economic growth and effective provision of public services by such
sectors as Local Government, Public Safety and Libraries in the Southwest Missouri
31
region rely heavily on the uniform availability of high capacity, affordable
broadband.
4. Rural areas do not have uniformly available, competitive broadband services.
Again, the cost of last mile infrastructure is an inhibitor.
5. A percentage of households do not value computers or broadband and consequently
the ancillary services that connect to computers through broadband. Accordingly,
Technology/Computer/Internet literacy is a need for these households.
The RTPT further amplified that a key component of meeting the above challenges was to
continue to expand high speed backhaul (middle-mile) infrastructure and services, as well as
expand the capacity of current cellular data systems by implementing 4G technology throughout
the region.
32
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
After review of all the findings gleaned from the Southwest Missouri region broadband needs
assessment and other associated information concerning broadband availability and adoption in
the region, the following are the strategic directions developed by the RTPT to enhance
broadband availability and adoption in the Southwest Missouri region. These strategic directions
emanate from the need to resolve a number of issues identified during the planning process, as
summarized below in the summary of critical findings.
SUMMARY OF CRITICAL FINDINGS
Adoption
There are clear technology, internet access and broadband adoption problems in the Southwest
Missouri region, where resources within the region and the State need to be focused.
Specifically:

7% of households do not own a computer

7% of those with computers do not have internet access

1 in 10 of those with internet access don’t have broadband

Cost, in this case price to the consumer, is a significant barrier, being the number one
reason for not having internet access at home, the number one reason for not owning a
computer and the top reason concerning the decision on making a choice for broadband
service. It also is cited as the top reason why businesses and institutions are unable to
upgrade the bandwidth of their current connections.

Computer/technology literacy is the second most offered reason for not owning a
computer. This then further plays into a lack of internet access, because lack of a
computer at home is the second most given reason for not having internet access.

Perceived lack of need is the third most given reason why households don’t own a
computer, indicating a lack of value placed on computer ownership. Additionally, 23%
of residents feel that broadband is either somewhat or not at all important.
33

Concerning business respondents, adoption of computers, the internet and broadband is a
lesser issue. Business issues are more associated with speed, cost and competition
problems. Also, those that don’t have broadband desire it, but can’t get it.

Regarding organizational sectors, broadband has been adopted by every sector profiled in
the Southwest Missouri region. However, enhancements in broadband adoption, i.e.,
increases in the type and amount of broadband access and applications utilized, are
compromised by:
o Affordability
o The need for additional training, hardware, software and other tools
o Lack of reliability of connections in a number of cases
o Lack of uniform availability of connections, which in turn affects lack of
continuity throughout the service supply chain
These are the major adoption issues that need to be resolved by developing and implementing
short-term, intermediate-term and long-term goals and objectives and associated strategic
initiatives.
Availability
The lack of availability is an issue that depresses broadband access and enhancements.
Specifically:

A review of the zip codes provided by those with dial-up and satellite internet access
show that a number fall in areas with the least amount of broadband availability - those
that are considered underserved or unserved based on NTIA definitions. Specifically,
such users can be found in parts of Christian, Dade, Dallas and other counties. The data
here suggests that some of these users are faced with lack of availability issues, while
others may require the lower cost of dial-up.

Sixty-percent (60%) of households with no internet access, including 73% of households
with a computer but no internet, use internet elsewhere, indicating that they place a
significant value on it, but may lack the available speed of connection that they need.

Regarding businesses, 45% of business survey respondents were dissatisfied with their
connection speed and 97% of respondents indicated that it would be beneficial if
broadband in their area was enhanced. This indicates a significant need to increase
affordable speed and capacity capabilities for businesses.
34

Uniformly available, high capacity, affordable, broadband will help with business
recruitment and growth that in turn will contribute to an expansion in economic
development.

Businesses that do not subscribe to broadband would if it were available to them.

Regarding institutions, organizations and businesses within varying sectors, they indicate
significant infrastructure and service availability needs and issues, including:
o Lack of competition is creating availability problems in meeting the need for
either different types of technologies or higher speeds and capacity. In other
words, they need enhancements beyond the basic broadband climate.
o There is a significant lack of access in rural areas, including those just outside of
population centers.
o There is a lack of broadband availability in critical portions of the “broadband
chain”. The “very last miles” have no assurances that they will ever be served.
o Uniformly available broadband will improve workforce development in the
region.
o Uniformly available broadband will help expand the provision of higher
educational services in the region.
o Uniformly available broadband is critical to the effective provision of local
government and public safety services, especially emergency services.
o Uniformly available broadband is critical to sustaining and expanding tourism and
agribusiness.
These are the key availability issues that require resolution by short-term, intermediate-term and
long-term goals and objectives and associated strategic initiatives.
35
STRATEGIES TO INCREASE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION
IN THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI REGION
The strategies discussed below are divided into two major categories: Availability and Adoption.
Each strategy is discussed beginning with the goal and then key objectives. The RTPT members,
during their review, prioritized the goals and stipulated that each objective be placed into the
plan as a short-term item (those that can be achieved within the first two Years of the Strategic
Plan’s implementation), intermediate-term item (3-5 Years after Plan implementation) or longterm item (6+ Years after Plan implementation). The Plan further discusses the proposed
policies, action items and implementation plan, as well as the financial, human, organizational,
technical and training/education resources to achieve the goals. This is followed by benchmarks
to measure progress and degree of success.
Adoption
Goals
There are three major overall broadband adoption goals. They are:
1. Increase broadband/internet, computer/access device ownership
2. Increase access to affordable broadband/internet
3. Increase computer/technology/internet literacy
Availability
Goals
There are two major goals to increase availability of broadband in the Southwest Missouri
region. They are:
1. Expand broadband availability such that it meets and exceeds the Governor’s goal of
95% availability to the entire Southwest Missouri region
2. Expand broadband capacity where there is currently broadband access, such that
individuals and businesses have access to:
o Multiple providers
o Multiple technologies
36
o Multiple tiers of access, up to and including the highest levels of individual and
business/institution access envisioned for the future in the National Broadband
Plan (up to 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload provided to residents and up
to 1 Gbps or more provided to community anchor institutions and any businesses
that desire such speeds).
The strategies and the elements to implement these goals are described in detail below.
Each goal is discussed from beginning to end in the regional order of priority determined by the
RTPT.
Goal 1. Availability -- Expand Broadband Availability such that it Meets and
Exceeds the Governor’s Goal of 95% Availability for the Entire Southwest Missouri
Region
Objectives
a. Work with providers in the short term to design initiatives to expand
broadband to ensure dial-up and satellite customers have affordable, highspeed internet choices – Although all existing providers in the Southwest
Missouri region should be involved in this effort, a review of the State’s
broadband availability maps, as well as the location of dial-up and satellite
internet users from the residential survey, shows that it would be significantly,
initially beneficial to work with certain providers serving parts of Christian, Dade
and Dallas Counties.
b. In the short term, begin to implement the design initiatives discussed and
agreed upon.
c. In the intermediate term – Continue to expand high-speed, affordable
broadband to all within the region as soon as feasible to reach 95+% availability
in the entire Southwest Missouri region.
d. Maintain and expand broadband networks to reach 100% availability in the
Southwest Missouri region during the long term.
Policies
a. It is already stated as a policy that broadband be available to 95% or more of
the population statewide by 2014. A review of broadband availability maps
shows that this has already been achieved for a significant portion, but not for all,
37
of the counties within the Southwest Missouri region. Accordingly, the focus
should now be on any remaining unserved areas, where dial-up and satellite are
predominant. Consistent with the discussion above related to the provision of
basic broadband service, similar incentives should be considered to begin by
focusing on remaining unserved areas and provide them with at least basic
broadband service availability.
This is not only a regional and statewide initiative, but also a national initiative.
Providers, for example, should be able to tap in to the Connect America Fund
(CAF) program to help accomplish this. The CAF is being developed by the
Federal Communications Commission to provide funding for an expansion in
broadband services, focusing initially on unserved and underserved populations.
The Southwest Missouri Broadband Development Program should work with
providers regionally, as well as the State working at a statewide level, to assist
providers in any way feasible to access such funds.
Action Item/Implementation Plan
Short Term
a. SMCOG Broadband Development Program works with all providers, especially
the providers discussed above, to explore current initiatives/projects/plans and
develop design initiatives.
b. Inventories are made of:

Publicly and privately owned towers (or tall objects)

State and local government planning, zoning, rights-of-way and other
regulations

Community Anchor Institutions

Middle mile infrastructure, POPs and DIAs
c. Necessary funding and support sources and mechanisms are identified and begin
to be obtained.
Intermediate Term
d. Public/private partnerships are developed.
e. Broadband system availability is expanded to reach 95+% throughout Southwest
Missouri.
38
Long Term
f. Additional broadband system new build and expansion efforts begin and continue
until 100% availability is achieved.
g. Broadband availability is maintained at the 100% level and capacity is increased
as discussed below.
Resources Needed
a. Financial

Until designs are chosen, it is not known exactly how much funding
will be needed to build out to the 95+% level and then to the 100%
level of broadband availability within the Southwest Missouri region.
This includes both Capital funds and the incremental operational cost that
will be required to support the expanded networks. Detailed figures
should be developed during the design phase in the short term, first for the
targeted unserved areas described above and then for others, to determine
costs to achieve the 95+% level during the intermediate term and then the
100% level during the long term. These should be determined in the short
term and agreement reached both at the regional and state level on the
appropriate level of funding needed. Then funds can be procured and the
build initiated.

Grant and other funding source application development – The region
and the State should stand ready to support the providers in obtaining CAF
funding (where pertinent), USF funding (until it is no longer available)
and other infrastructure development funds to support the infrastructure
builds designed.
b. Human

There will be a variety of human resources needed, some which are
factored into other activities, such as administrative and operational
human resources at the State and regional level. A number of human
resources will also be needed at the service provider level in order to
design and build the network expansions.
c. Organizational

Similar to the above, organizations involved will include the State,
SMCOG, and the service providers.
39
d. Technical

Primary technical resources will come from the service provider,
including the design and engineering of the infrastructure expansions
to achieve the levels of broadband availability within the timelines
discussed above.

There will also need to be some technical resources at the State and
local level to evaluate the plans of the service providers.
e. Training/Education

No additional resources are needed in this category, beyond those
already described above for educating those on the utility of the
broadband services that will be made available to them.
Timeline/Benchmarks
Short Term
a. Development of all inventories and design of infrastructure expansions to provide
service to the unserved in the targeted areas described above.
Intermediate Term
b. Procurement of funding to implement the build.
c. Build out infrastructure to provide services to those targeted areas and achieve
95+ availability.
Long Term
d. Design, secure funding and build infrastructure to provide 100% availability.
Goal 2. Adoption -- Increase Broadband/Internet, Computer/Access Device
Ownership
Objectives
a. Expand computer reclamation and redistribution/repurposing efforts –
Efforts should be made locally, most likely supported by a Statewide campaign, to
have institutions, businesses and homeowners give old and/or unused
computer/access devices to be reclaimed, repurposed and redistributed to those
40
that desire such devices, but can’t afford them. They would be recycled to a
central location(s) where they would be repurposed. Residents and businesses
would apply to receive them at no or low cost. Where efforts already exist, such
as through Altec Solutions Group, Inc. and the Computer Recycling Center in
Springfield and the Midwest Computer Recycling center in Branson, seek to
support and expand such efforts during the short term. Where new efforts need to
be developed, look at the potential for public/private partnerships during the
intermediate term.
b. Continue reclamation, redistribution/repurposing efforts as a going concern
during the long term.
c. Develop and implement a mechanism to provide low cost tablet computers –
It has been projected that as time increases, tablet computing devices will become
the primary means for non-work access to the internet (as well as the preferred
means of portable work-related access to the internet), and also the easiest device
to learn and use effectively. Accordingly, there should be a significant push
within the planning horizon during the short term to develop low or no cost tablet
distribution to those that desire computer/access devices, but do not have access
to them.
d. Ensure access during the intermediate term to all those within the region that
desire computers but don’t have them through continuation of the efforts
started previously - This should include provision of devices to all those that
desired computer/access device ownership at the beginning of the planning
horizon, plus those that subsequently desired such devices based on the efforts
under other adoption goals, concerning an increase in computer literacy as well as
in the perceived value of computing devices.
Policies
a. Statewide Campaign and Incentives – To support local efforts, there should be
an expansion in statewide outreach campaigns to encourage computer
reclamation, redistribution and repurposing efforts. This can include incentives to
businesses, institutions and homeowners. It can also include involvement in
national, non-profit or private sector sponsored initiatives, such as One Economy,
to distribute low cost computing devices, again focusing on tablets as time
progresses.
41
Action Items/Implementation Plan
a. For Computer Repurposing and Tablet Distribution
Short Term

Inventory existing schools and programs that could help in refurbishment
of computers.

Develop a list of potential funding sources and mechanisms.

Outreach to homes, businesses and institutions to recycle computing
devices.

Develop/update the application process.
Intermediate Term

Build on the existing recycling locations in Springfield and Branson,
potentially developing sub-regional drop-off locations in each SMCOG
County.

Develop/update the application process.

Measure the success of the initial effort, revise procedures and processes
as necessary and continue to expand the program.

Begin and expand the program to procure and develop an inventory of
tablet computers.

Revise the application process to determine the best distribution of tablets
versus other computing devices.

Measure progress on an annual basis, revise procedures and processes as
necessary.
Long Term

Determine whether both processes are necessary, or whether it is feasible
to distribute repurposed or new tablets at no or low cost so that only one
program needs continuation

Measure the success of the entire project. If it is determined that everyone
in the region that desires a computer has one, then down scale efforts as
needed.
42
Resources Needed
a. Financial

Computer reclamation/redistribution/repurposing – Experience
indicates that the best success in this area has been achieved through a
combination of volunteer efforts and monetary support. Specifically,
space typically can be donated for drop-off points including Chamber of
Commerce locations, educational facilities, excess space at
industrial/manufacturing locations, etc. Volunteer resources, as explained
below, can often be enlisted for transporting devices to and from drop-off
locations, as well as to homebound residents.
Monetary support is typically needed for personnel needed to coordinate
and manage the program, as well as technicians to repair and reclaim
computing devices. Monetary support is also needed to set up, maintain
and expand the capital equipment needed to support repair and
reclamation operations.
Although this cost would need to be significantly refined as detailed
operational plans are developed, a good starting point would be to estimate
up to approximately $100,000 in monetary support needed initially, with
up to $50,000 per year needed thereafter and then funding budgeted as
needed once everyone in the region who desires a computer has one.

Tablet computer procurement and distribution – It is likely that both
commercial tablet computer vendors and programs such as One Economy
will seek to distribute low cost tablet computers at a price point of
approximately $100. Application typically needs to be made to these
programs at the point at which they are available, but the Strategic Plan
can be utilized to demonstrate the need. Assuming that such programs
will be subsidized, but not at no cost, potentially 1,000 units could be
budgeted starting in the intermediate term, totaling approximately
$100,000 per year for this program. At the end of the intermediate term, it
can be determined whether additional support is needed based on the level
of increase in computer penetration in the region.

Available grant funding – There are continual funds available to
especially provide capital support. Part of the organizational resources
recommended in this Plan include grant-writing support. Wherever
feasible, such funds should be applied for and accessed to defray the cost
described above.
43

Support for SMCOG – Since the Plan, as described further below,
anticipates that SMCOG will continue in its broadband development role
by establishment of a Regional Broadband Development Program, there
will need to be support for this function. A large-scale estimated cost
would be approximately $25,000 per year for someone at SMCOG to
oversee and coordinate all the efforts described below.
b. Human

Computer reclamation/redistribution/repurposing – As discussed
above, the human resources needed for this program include:
o Volunteers for transport and receipt of devices at drop-off
locations, as well as “word of mouth” outreach
o Paid administrative and technical personnel to coordinate outreach
efforts, interface with SMCOG and the State and oversee technical
repair and reclamation operations
o Paid technical staff to perform the repairs, if needed to augment
existing efforts

Tablet computer procurement and distribution – Paid administrative
staff will need to be put in place, most likely combined with that for the
program above, to seek out and apply for available programs, and then
administer distribution of the computers. This person would also
coordinate with institutions to help distribute such devices (such as
through K-12 schools to parents and workforce development centers to job
seekers, in households that have no computing devices)
c. Organizational

Computer reclamation/redistribution/repurposing – This program
most appropriately would fall as a subprogram of the overall Southwest
Missouri Broadband Development Program. The most feasible way to
administer such an overall program, including oversight of the efforts
detailed further below, would be to house the program under the auspices
of the current SMCOG.

Tablet computer procurement and distribution – Similarly, this part of
the computer ownership enhancement program would be administered
overall under SMCOG.
44

Available grant funding – Similar to the above, SMCOG’s Broadband
Development Program would administer this function, including receipt of
funds.
d. Technical

Computer reclamation/recycling/repurposing – Technical support will
be needed here in the form of technicians to repair and certify the
reclaimed computers. Some of this technical support already exists at
current recycling centers.

Tablet computer procurement and distribution – Technical support
will be needed here to specify the computing devices and supply
information to grant writers.
For all efforts under this adoption goal, training and education in computer
literacy will be needed to ensure the best utilization of the devices distributed.
This is covered in the next goal.
Timeline/Benchmarks
a. Computer reclamation/recycling/repurposing and Tablet PC procurement
and distribution –
Short Term

The program is put into place, fully funded and distributing PCs.
Intermediate Term

The program expands computer ownership approximately 1-2% per year
until it hits 95% in the Southwest Missouri region.
Long Term

Computer ownership is sustained and is increased if feasible (experience
indicates that 100% of the population may never own a computing device,
based on lack of perceived value despite all computer ownership-spurring
efforts).
45
Goal 3. Availability -- Expand Broadband Capacity throughout the Southwest
Missouri Region
Objectives
a. Design capacity expansions during the short term where they are most
feasible – For example, where plans are already on the drawing board, where it
requires only swap-outs of equipment, in high-density areas where return on
investment is relatively quick and the indicated need for higher speeds and
competitive services is high.
b. Begin expansions of capacity in the short term.
c. Continue capacity expansion in the intermediate term - Such that high levels
of residential service (up to 100 Mbps download/50 Mbps upload) are available to
residents and up to 1 Gbps is available to community anchor institutions and
businesses in all areas with a non-rural population density (urban, suburban,
incorporated areas, etc.).
d. Expand competition in the intermediate term - So that all areas with higher
capacity also have multiple providers (more than 2) and multiple technologies
(multiple wireline and wireless providers). This should provide the competition
desired by residents and businesses. Such a competitive environment should also
have a competitive market affect on pricing and incorporation of new
technologies in order to stay competitive.
e. This also should include expansion of technologies during the intermediate
term that were heretofore not available to certain segments of the population.
For example, while certain populated areas have both cable modem and DSL
competition, just outside these areas there may be only wireless options or one
wireline option.
f. Continue capacity expansion efforts so that in the long term everyone in the
region has access to up to 100 Mbps for residential and up to 1 Gbps for
community anchor institutions and businesses, including access to multiple
technologies and multiple providers.
Policies
a. Capacity expansion is perhaps the most critical area where consensus policymaking needs to occur. For example, providers have noted during the
assessment and planning process that they believe that some areas will not support
46
competitive providers, because there is only a marginal return for a single
provider. In other instances, providers indicate that the lack of cost-effective
middle-mile infrastructure creates a climate where capacity cannot be expanded in
an affordable way.
However, this dynamic significantly changes if the need and desire for adoption
increases, based on the adoption spurring efforts detailed above. Additionally, if
more services are available for both residential and business, the price/value
comparison will move in a higher price direction, thus supporting the operation of
competing providers with multiple technological solutions, the ability to provide
redundant circuits, etc. and other characteristics which have shown to positively
increase the amount of income expended on broadband services and related
hardware applications.
Accordingly, it will be important for the federal government to continue to pursue
the goals and objectives in the National Broadband Plan, which target, as an
outcome, available, high capacity, competitive, affordable, broadband solutions
for all. It is also important for the State to emulate these pursuits and establish
statewide policies, including incentives, to spur availability such that it is ahead
of, or at least consistent with, an increasing computer/internet/broadband adoption
rate. A problem would occur if adoption is spurred, but broadband is not
available. This has shown to cause significant consternation and subsequent
abandonment of adoption efforts by individuals that face lack of availability.
Action Item/Implementation Plan
Short Term
a. SMCOG Broadband Development Program works with all providers, especially
the providers with the characteristics discussed above, to develop capacityenhancing initiatives.
b. Possibly missed high density areas are identified and targeted for service.
c. Areas where speeds of 3 Mbps down/1.5Mbps up are not available are identified.
Intermediate Term
d. Necessary funding and support is obtained during the beginning of the
intermediate term.
e. Obstacles and impasses are forwarded to the State to champion.
47
f. Capacity expansion efforts begin and continue until all non-rural areas have
multiple competing providers offering multiple technological solutions, with up to
100 Mbps for residents and up to 1 Gbps for community institutions/businesses.
Long Term
g. All Southwest Missouri region residents and businesses have access to multiple,
high capacity broadband.
Resources Needed
a. Financial

Similar to the above, it is not yet known what the financial
implications are of development of higher capacity, competing
provider and technology options, until such options are designed and
return on investments evaluated. It is known, that while competing
options may cause initial reductions in price, thus initially reducing
revenues, ultimately, if the need that has been defined herein is met, such
options will expand the market by adding consumers, and expand the
market by increasing the revenue per household or business, including
instances where both business and residential consumers are choosing
multiple providers (based on meeting fixed and mobile access, redundant
and higher capacity needs for both work and residential applications).
It is likely that expanding capacity will be significantly cost efficient in a
number of cases such as expanding the capability of current cable modembased DOCSIS 3.0 solutions to provide greater capacity for residents and
businesses, or where line extensions can be expanded from the core (for
example to expand DSL and/or cable wireline competition in areas where
either one or the other could expand from their existing network to provide
competitive services). Additionally, it is feasible that an aggregation of
demand could help spur development of new, cost-effective middle-mile
infrastructure. Further, new middle-mile infrastructure from Sho-Me
Technologies will help establish cost-effective system expansion options.
As last mile providers connect to Sho-Me and expand their networks, the
provider inventory in the region should be updated.
All of these options will need to be designed and evaluated. Where the
return on investment is viable, these should be the first areas to see an
expansion in capacity.
48
b. Human

Coordinating resources will need to be done at the State and regional
level, to ensure that this “enhanced capacity” goal continues to be on
the radar screen. Additionally, providers will need to allocate personnel
to focus on this as part of their medium and long-term planning.
c. Organizational

Capacity expansion will be a significantly beneficial effort, but it must
come on the heels of critical efforts to provide service to the unserved
and underserved. However, some of the resources of both the State’s
MoBroadbandNow Office as well as SMCOG’s Broadband Development
Program need to be devoted to this effort, because it serves a critical need
as well. Specifically, as capacity, technology and competition is expanded
in an area, they continue to help open up greater opportunities for
economic development and expansion in all sectors.
d. Technical

Similar to the above, while some technical resources will be needed at
the State and local level to evaluate the plans of the service providers,
most of the technical resources will come from the provider
community itself. This will include not only operational, design and
engineering personnel, but also research and development personnel at
both the State and Corporate level.

Resources will be needed in this category to provide information on
the benefits of enhanced access (faster speeds, new and additional
applications, expanded use of portable technology, the need for
redundant operations, etc.). The need for education and training should
factor in again to the medium to long-term planning efforts of both the
service provider community and the State and regional broadband
programs.
Timeline/Benchmarks
Short Term
a. Design initiatives to take advantage of expansion that is either currently on the
drawing boards or could be done in a relatively short order with a known,
reasonable return on investment.
49
b. Implement these capacity expansion efforts, as well as begin designs to bring
expansions and capacity to the entire region.
Intermediate Term
c. Focus on expanding capacity, access to middle mile infrastructure, multiple
providers and technology options to those areas that currently only have a primary
or two providers.
Long Term
d. The long term planning horizon should see 100% of the region with three or more
providers, fixed and mobile, with residential capacity up to 100 Mbps per home
and community anchor institution/business capacity up to 1 Gbps per business.
Goal 4. Adoption -- Increase Access to Affordable Broadband/Internet
Objectives
a. Inventory and expand public access availability to computers and the
internet – This will mean evaluating, inventorying and then expanding both the
capacity of internet/broadband at existing locations as well as the number of
devices at these locations and support for those that seek to utilize public access
during the short term.
b. Continue to expand public access, including to new locations and after-hours
access at educational institutions – This would mean placing public access
computers in locations where they currently aren’t, including potentially at
Chambers of Commerce (for businesses to use), non-profits, community centers,
K-12 schools, businesses in remote areas that have high-speed internet access but
surrounding residents do not (to primarily support their employees) potentially
through public/private partnerships, and other such locations during both the short
and intermediate term.
c. Develop and expand a low cost, basic broadband access throughout the
region – Experience indicates that the price point for such access has to be
reduced to approximately $9.95 per month (the current cost for a number of dialup circuits, as well as the cost of CenturyLink’s and some other providers’ most
basic broadband service). Experience indicates that when affordability is the
broadband adoption inhibitor, this price point will attract adopters.
50
For both efforts, the success should begin to be measured during the intermediate
term of the planning horizon, and then again at the beginning of the long term.
d. During the long term, make decisions to sustain, reduce, or expand public
access and basic broadband provision efforts to ensure 95% access and
adoption or greater.
Policies
a. Regarding public access and after-hours access – Much work is being done by
current educational institutions and libraries to develop and sustain public
computing centers. This work should be leveraged to fine-tune plans to enhance
existing and expand public access locations. Additionally, programs should be
devised to leverage available assets after-hours at K-12 schools and expand such
programs where they are already underway.
As discussed below, expansion will also depend upon other available funding.
Significant funding is available through grants, and is anticipated to be going
forward, as well as through partnerships with organizations like One Economy.
These opportunities should also be leveraged to enhance and expand the level of
public access needed to reach the 95%+ level of adoption.
b. Regarding basic broadband/internet access cost - Two policies need to be
pursued at the State level. First, the State should consider incentives, favorable
tax policies, etc. for those providers that indicate that they will offer affordable,
basic broadband access through the planning horizon and beyond. Similar to the
conditions of, for example, CenturyLink’s Internet Basics program, the State may
want to place some conditions on such access to ensure that it targets those most
in need. If financially feasible, though, it would be most beneficial if it was
available to everyone (since a percentage of internet adopters clearly perceive that
dial-up is enough, even when broadband is available. Their inhibitor is primarily
their current price/value comparison).
Additionally, development of new residential services from utilities, emergency
services, healthcare, security and similar sectors should be pursued. This will also
help stimulate adoption when affordable broadband is also available.
a. For Public Access Computer Centers
Short Term

Inventory and evaluate existing centers for expansion.
51

Determine items needed for expansion (hardware/software, personnel
support, space, etc.).
Intermediate Term

Seek partners for development of new centers.

Begin and continue to expand existing centers.

Determine hardware/software, etc. needed for development of new
centers.
Long Term

Develop and continue to expand new centers.

Make decisions to sustain, reduce or expand public computer access based
on the 95%+ adoption benchmark.
b. For After-Hours Computer Centers
Short Term

Inventory existing schools and programs.

Inventory community to gauge interest.

Develop list of potential funding sources and mechanisms.
Intermediate Term

Develop MOUs for agreement and begin programs.
Long Term

Measure use and progress; revise procedures and processes as necessary.
c. For Basic, Low Cost Broadband Access
Short Term

Work with providers to determine how to implement low cost broadband
access.

Determine parameters needed.
Intermediate Term

Implement initial basic access in targeted locations.
52

Expand initial offering throughout the region.
Long Term

Continue basic service provision if needed to maintain broadband
adoption levels.
Resources Needed
a. Financial

Expand public access and after-hours computers – This will require
financial support for new hardware/software and replacement over the
planning horizon as well as additional personnel support costs, especially
for new locations. The exact amount of funding support will depend
significantly on the amount of expansion made, as well as how much
capability is implemented in new locations (i.e., number of devices,
amount of broadband capacity accessed, number of support personnel to
assist users, etc.)
Accordingly, for planning purposes, we have projected the following unit
costs:
o $1,000 per hardware/software package
o $15.00 per square foot of operational space
o $150.00 per month for broadband connection capacity expansion
o $50,000 in loaded personnel cost for support at new locations
depending on the size of the program; $25,000 at existing locations

Region-wide, low cost broadband internet access tier – This will
depend upon the incentives provided. Some estimates indicate that this is
generally consistent with the true cost of providing basic broadband
service, once a system is established as a going concern, without profit and
without placing money in reserve for enhancements and expansion.
Likely, provision of this service will need to be negotiated with the service
provider industry.
b. Human

Similar to the above, coordinative resources will be needed at the
SMCOG level to help design and implement expansions of existing
public access computing locations as well as partner with other
organizations to develop new locations - Additionally, there will likely
53
need to be additional, trained, skilled, personnel to support the public’s
access to the computing and application resources.

Development of a basic broadband tier region-wide – There will need
to be resources at the State level to help develop incentives, resources at
the local level to work with the providers locally to implement such a
service, as well as promote it throughout the region. Additionally, service
providers will need to allocate resources to interface with the State and
SMCOG, as well as provide outreach to those that would qualify for the
program.
c. Organizational

The central focus would be the Broadband Development Program at
the regional office, as well as specific resources at the State, including
the MoBroadbandNow Office as well as, most likely the PUC, the
Department of Economic Development, and others who would help
establish the incentives to spur the provision of basic broadband
service. Additionally, resources would be needed at each of the current
organizations that provide public access to computers, internet and
broadband as well as partner organizations. These same entities may be
involved, as indicated above, in educational and training functions since
access to hardware/software will be needed for those functions as well.
d. Technical

Expansion of Public Access and After-Hours Computing – Technical
resources will be needed to install new hardware/software, as well as train
support personnel (and potentially users) and maintain the equipment.

Concerning the basic level of broadband access - Service providers
should anticipate heightened service support, since many who will take the
lowest tier of service will be broadband users for the first time.

As indicated above, part of the support personnel function for Public
Access computers would be to educate users on the use of both the
hardware and software resources at the public access locations.
Additionally, service providers should anticipate additional education and
training support, including materials and personnel for first time
broadband users.
54
Timeline/Benchmarks
Short Term
a. Both existing and new public access and after-hours computing locations are
targeted for expansion and development. Also, initial discussions occur with all
service providers to establish a basic broadband tier of service similar to “Internet
Basics”.
Intermediate Term
b. Existing locations are expanded to provide greater access to public computers,
broadband and related applications. New after-hours access locations are opened.
c. Initial access to basic broadband service is provided and contributes to a rise in
broadband adoption. Seven percent of computer users have not adopted the
internet at home, and 10% of the Southwest Missouri region with internet access
at home currently have not adopted broadband, but there are other factors besides
affordability contributing to this. Accordingly, a rise of between 2 and 4% per
year in broadband adoption due to availability of a low cost broadband tier would
be seen as significant.
Long Term
d. The basic broadband tier of service is offered to all throughout the region.
Broadband adoption increases such that it reaches 95% levels.
e. Additional public computing centers are made available.
f. Public Access computing centers are maintained as well as basic broadband
service to sustain 95%+ broadband adoption levels.
Goal 5. Adoption -- Increase Computer/Technology/Internet Literacy
Objectives
a. Increase the perceived value of computer ownership and use, internet access
and broadband access – As a first objective, engaging every sector
(Agricultural, Business, Education, Government, Healthcare, Public Safety,
Workforce Development, etc.) in a regional (supported by a Statewide) campaign
to show the value of access devices, internet access and broadband for all
segments of the population, will help raise awareness and understanding of their
utility in each individual’s life (home, work, recreation, education, etc.) and have
55
the consequential affect of increasing value. Once seen as valuable, individuals
without computers, internet access and/or broadband at this point will be willing
to make price/value decisions based on their projection of the cost/benefit. This
template development, outreach and educational campaign should begin with the
inception of the Strategic Plan and ramp up during the short term.
b. Continuation and heightening of the outreach campaign – Evaluation of the
template and the campaign’s efforts should be made near the end of the short term
and the template and the campaign adjusted to better reach target audiences (at the
outset, target audiences include: lower socioeconomic households, elderly
residents, and rural residents).
c. Inventory and enhancement of existing and development of new
computer/technology/internet/broadband literacy programs – Based on the
response to the regional outreach effort, existing programs (at the Ozarks
Technical Community College locations in Springfield and Branson, Missouri
State University in Springfield, workforce training and development locations, K12 School Districts, Libraries such as the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library,
Dallas County Library and others, etc.) should be inventoried and expanded
where feasible to incorporate the individuals that respond to the outreach
campaign. Additionally, other programs can be developed (in conjunction with
the Chambers of Commerce, private businesses, governments, etc.) to help fulfill
the need.
At the outset there should be three types of interwoven training:
o Computer literacy and use training
o Internet access, especially broadband, training, and
o Application training, from basic to advanced, depending upon the level of
the trainee
This should begin with expansion of existing programs during the short term and
ramp up to programs region wide, with a variety of partners during the
intermediate term. Such programs can level off or even be reduced, once
attendance begins to drop, indicating that residents and business representatives
are sufficiently trained.
d. Sustain the level of outreach needed to maintain the highest possible (95%+)
perceived value of computers, internet and broadband within the region by
the end of the intermediate term.
56
e. Sustain the level of training by needed during the long term to ensure that all
that desire such training receive the level that they need to sustain their
desired quality of life - Also, in working with business and industry, ensure that
the level of training remains high to both retain and attract knowledge and
information-based businesses.
Policies
a. It will be important for the State to both support and design templates for outreach
campaigns, that can then be tailored locally, to heighten the perceived value and
enable individuals and businesses to make reasonable cost/benefit, price/value
comparisons. The desired outcome is increasing computer/internet/broadband
technology literacy and use.
b. There should also be incentives given to non-profits, businesses, educational and
public sector entities to expand current educational and training programs in this
area, or to start-up new educational and training programs.
Short Term
a. Develop a Statewide template and local outreach plan and associated materials.
b. Establish a list and inventory educational/training partners that can enhance and
expand their programs.
c. Implement the outreach plan through partnering with those that currently educate
and train in this area, as well as new partners (business, healthcare, industry,
community services, etc.) that would find benefit in outreach to its workforce and
client base.
d. Develop a list of potential funding sources and mechanisms.
Intermediate Term
e. Structure plans to enhance and expand existing programs and continue outreach
efforts.
f. Expand existing programs. Then, start up programs with additional participants
who have responded to the outreach program.
g. Evaluate both the outreach efforts and the expanded training efforts.
57
Long Term
h. Adjust efforts based on the outcome of initial efforts to better target outreach;
continue sustaining and expansion of, successful, existing programs and plan for
and implement new programs.
i. Evaluate all efforts to-date.
j. Change to a sustaining mode if 95% of residents and businesses indicate that they
are sufficiently trained or are able to access training when needed to advance their
skills.
Resources Needed
a. Financial

Outreach Programs – Funding will be needed at both the State and
regional level to: develop a template; tailor it locally; work with existing
and potential partner organizations; develop outreach materials; and
publicize training and education programs. Funding will also be needed to
sustain and expand these efforts as needed over the planning horizon, as
well as continually evaluate and modify these efforts as needed.
It is recommended that full time staff at the State and local level be
responsible for the outreach efforts with supporting operational material
and resources. Accordingly, up to an estimated $100,000 should be
allocated for this in the short term ($50,000 at the State level and $50,000
at the regional level).
For the intermediate term, this could drop to approximately $50,000
annually ($25,000 at each level).

Training and education programs – These are at the heart of adoption
spurring programs, and as such will take significant financial resources to
implement, especially initially.
On a region-wide level, expanding existing and adding new programs (as
referenced above) could potentially take upwards of $100,000 to
$250,000, which would need to be sustained for both maintenance and
expansion purposes through the end of the intermediate term. Evaluation
can be made during the long term to see if such budgets could be reduced.

Grant availability – There are a variety of educational grants for at least
the short-term that are available from foundations, educational
58
associations, other non-profits (such as One Economy), and the federal
government. Additional ones are anticipated. One resource to start with is
One Economy, which has recently been tapped by the FCC to lead its
“Connect 2 Compete” initiative. As such, funding for grant writing
resources will be critical. Such grant writing funding should be seen as an
ongoing expense until at least 95% levels of training/education have been
obtained.
b. Human

Outreach Programs – Regarding outreach, human resources will be
needed, including both those at the State and regional level that have a
background in education, training and marketing communications. Again,
we anticipate that this will be a fulltime job for at least the short term of
the planning horizon.

Training and education programs – This will require trained educators,
as well as “train the trainer” personnel. Some of these positions will be
existing, and will handle expansions in attendance at their existing
programs. Other programs and classes at existing locations will need to be
established, perhaps doubling the number of educational/trainers at some
existing locations and adding new ones at other locations. Once the
results of the outreach are known, the exact education/training workforce
needed over the length of the planning horizon will need to be more
finitely determined. This may also adjust the initially proposed budgets
under financial resources.
c. Organizational

Similar to the above, we anticipate that coordinative efforts will be
needed at the SMCOG level under a continuing regional broadband
enhancement program - Beyond this, every partner organization will
need to coordinate with SMCOG, specifically those involved in the
outreach and education training effort. It would also be wise to establish
at least a virtual (by electronic means of meeting and communication)
Education and Training Committee which involves chief administrators of
the training components of healthcare organizations, workforce
development entities, Chambers of Commerce, large businesses and
industry, School Districts, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical
Community College, the Libraries, etc.
59
d. Technical

Potentially additional hardware/software to support the training and
education efforts, as well as additional or expanded broadband
connectivity at training and education locations will be needed. If
funds are provided for new hardware/software, it is likely that existing
locations that have been set up for training to-date can be expanded.
Where that is not feasible, classroom/training room design work may be
necessary.

It would be useful to develop a tailored curriculum which would focus
on the specific issues of the Southwest Missouri region – This should
include computer/internet/application/broadband skills that are highly
valued and utilized in agriculture; industrial and manufacturing
organizations and small businesses within the region, or those businesses
and industries that are desirous of either relocating to the region or those
that it would be beneficial to attract to the region, such as additional
knowledge/ information-based businesses; skills that are needed to support
the tourism industry, such as highly graphic intensive and interactive web
design to attract tourists and vacationers; and others. This curriculum
could be developed as a template at the statewide level and then tailored
regionally.
Timeline/Benchmarks
a. Outreach
Short Term

Outreach efforts designed and implemented.
Intermediate Term

Outreach efforts evaluated and modified.

Outreach efforts continuing and measured for success.
Long Term

Outreach efforts evaluated for level of continuation.
60
b. Training/Education
Short Term

Partners for both expansion of existing programs and development of new
programs determined.

Expansion of existing programs.
Intermediate Term

Addition of new programs, as well as evaluation of existing programs.

Evaluation of existing and new programs.
Long Term

Evaluate at what level the program should be continued.
Additional detail supporting this Strategic Plan can be found in the Attachments.
#
61
ATTACHMENTS
(Provided in Separate Documents)

the broadband availability and adoption strategic plan

Transcription

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